The International Consortium of Aeronautical Test Sites (ICATS) welcomed CATUAV Tech Center (CTC) in Barcelona as its fifth member here at the Farnborough International Airshow yesterday, adding Spain to the list of countries involved in the partnership. The other countries represented in the group include Canada, the U.S., the UK and France.
In April, representatives of the UAV test and service center (CESA), Bordeaux, France, the Oklahoma State University–University Multispectral Laboratories, U.S., the National Aeronautical Centre, Wales, signed the MOU. This agreement consolidates the various MOUs signed between the centers over the past two years.
“ICATS represents the first such collaboration between nations to share data on unmanned aerial systems,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology, Dr. Stephen McKeever. “We think this is a great step forward for the UAS community, and we hope it is a vehicle by which we will be able to unify regulations across international boundaries.”
The mission of ICATS is to develop international centers of expertise focused on the development, applications and operations of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)/Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). The consortium of test centers aim to support and guide the industry in the development, operations and certification of UAS/RPAS as established by their respective regulating bodies. ICATS also aims to concentrate on cross-border “normalization” of training and licensing, as well as airspace management and regulations. The test sites plan to engage with private, academic and public sector partners and other experts to develop new UAS/RPAS business opportunities, support research and development activities, create jobs, promote investment, commercialize advanced technologies and expand existing services.
By sharing information on operational safety, flight regulations and actual operational experience, the consortium aims to develop, test and ultimately gain certification of UAS and RPAS to allow for their use in non-segregated airspace.
Since the formal announcement, ICATS has received expressions of interest from several UAS/RPAS test sites in multiple countries. The consortium welcomes interest from all UAS test sites and encourages contact with the ICATS Director of International Relations, Dr. Stephen McKeever, Secretary of Science and Technology, State of Oklahoma.
